fast food

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (P.S.)
$10.00
Since the description isn't clear, don't waste your money on this "limited edition" book if you already have the original. I was under the impression from the low price and (P.S.) after the title that this was an addition to the original or perhaps even the original with additional new material. Nope. Same book I already have.

Fast Food Nation
$14.98
Please explain me why you have send me a zone 1 dvd were i am in a zone 2 area ???????

Is there a way to play it ...there seeem to be a coode to change my dvd player ?

Or can you send me a zone 2 ?

Thanks and regards

harrie

In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules
$24.99
I picked up this book because like many people outside of California, the cult phenomena of In-N-Out burgers is very strange and fascinating to me. Yes, I've had their burgers. Yes, they are better than what you get at McD's or Burger King. But I still don't understand the obsessions. I wanted an insight into a company that was able to create itself as a cultural icon.

I did get a little of this. It took until page 175 or so before you figure out that the desire of In-N-Out is it's mystique, and the shortage compared to demand. If there was one on every block, even if it was able to maintain its quality, I just don't see it maintaining such a rabid following.

But what I didn't get out of the book was a lot of business details. I understand now why we didn't get those - the family is very secretive. Rather, the book focused on the 3 generations of the Snyder family. When the author admits herself that the average In-N-Out customer doesn't even know who these people are, I have to question why there was a need to devote 300+ pages to them when precious few details are available. So much of the book was filler. Did I really need to know that the Snyder sons' milatry school uniforms were not considered "cool"? Every family has silly little memories like that and they are never of any interest to anyone not in the inner circle. There was an entire chapter devoted to Rich Snyder's political and religious views. I think the author was really trying to demonstrate how these conservative views shaped the way he ran the company, but how it seemed to me was how the company had put him in the position to have leverage with political parties, to create churches, etc.

The one part of this book that I think the author did really well was the frequent comparisons to McDonalds. She went out of her way to demonstrate that they were very different companies. While I was reading it, I'll admit to rolling my eyes a few times - while In-N-Out may not be a multi-international globalization giant, let's not forget that a Double Double is just as responsible for health issues in this country as a Big Mac is, just on a smaller scale. But through the differentiations of the companies marketing, growth, and corporate culture, by the end of the book, you completely forget that the Double Double still contains your daily recommended fat intake.

The book was a love letter to a burger, in many ways. What it lacked in business details it made up for in shedding light on a cultural icon for those of us who have only experienced it on short visits to California.

Fast Food My Way
$30.00
As a vegetarian, I'm always looking for inspired, easy and delicious vegetarian food. Although, this is not a vegetarian cookbook, Jacques Pepin has created many easy vegetarian recipes in this book and many others that can simply be modified by omitting or substituting the meaty ingredient.

I like to check cookbooks out of the library to give them a test run and this one made the cut - I bought it. I love cooking, but I find there are few cookbooks that I routinely cook from - these recipes are so quick and elegant, this book has become a favorite.

Some of my favorite recipes: in the "More quick ideas for quick dishes section" he has several suggestions on easy desserts - graham cracker topped with ricotta, honey, dried fruit and, if you like, a few drops of Grand Marnier (p 17); Instant vegetable soup (p 46); Silky tomato soup with spinach coulis (p 49); Zucchini and tomato salad (p 70); Summertime pasta (yum!) (p 110); Soupy rice with peas (p 106); Apple skillet cake (p 179).

If you're only going to try one recipe, try: Parsley and pumpkin seed salad (p 72) - full of shredded carrots (I leave out the sardine and add some ume vinegar - delicious!). Jacques Pepin gives us a splendid way to eat this "superfood", parsley. Parsley leaf contains 22% protein and is high in calcium and essential fatty acids.